Keyboard providing different unrelated codes in response to caseshift operation



y 1957 B. NITSCHKE 3,317,020

KEYBOARD PROVIDING DIFFERENT UNRELATED CODES IN RESPONSE TO CASESHIFT OPERATION Filed July 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Bruno M'lisc/ile ATTYS.

May 2, 1967 B. NITSCHKE 3,317,020

KEYBOARD PROVIDING DIFFERENT UNRELATED CODES IN RESPONSE TO CASESHIFT OPERATION Filed July 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v 7 '7 INVENTOR 5/ 1/20 M'Xscfle ATTYS.

United States Paten f 3,317,020 KEYBOARD PROVIDING DIFFERENT UNRE- LATED CODES IN RESPONSE TO CASESHIFT OPERATION Bruno Nitsclike, Munich, Germany, assignor to Siemens & Halske Aktiengesellschaft Berlin and Munich, a corporation of Germany Filed July 28, 1965, Ser. No. 475,515 Claims priority, application Germany, July 30, 1964,

S 92,365 3 Claims. (Cl. 197-98) The invention relates to a keyboard for teletype machines for the generation of symbol steps by the actuation of selector slides acting on selector members responsive to key actuation in which system to each key there are allocated two or more symbols.

For a new 8-step code (at present several codes are concurrently in preparation for various applications in telegraphy and data transmission) the problem is raised, among others, especially by reason of the large number of symbols tobe printed, that for the simplification of operation a double utilization of the symbol keys is unavoidable. Here, of course, it is desirable to make the keyboard correspond to that of the typewriter. Moreover, transitional operational difiiculties in the operation should be avoided in the event of simultaneous use of both kinds of machines. Accordingly, therefore, as in typewriters, the majority of the keys must be doubly utilized, with the shifting to the symbol appearing at the top of the key being accomplished by simultaneous actuation of a shift key.

The differences in national associations of the keys of the typewriter keyboard with symbols, each arrangement always corresponding to the particular national requirement, leads, in the use of an international telegraph alphabet, to the situation that the code symbols of two symbols, allocated to a common key in arbitrary code steps, differ from one another. Further, there is the possibility, with single occupation of the symbols to arrange two different codes on the selector combs. On a full keyboard for a -step code, for example, with 46 single utilized symbol keys there can be transmitted, first, the telegraph alphabet No. 2, and, second, over internal connections, the number-securing code.

The invention has as its problem, that of developing a keyboard, which, unlike the known keyboards, makes it possible in use of a 5-to-8-step code to utilize the keys according to national requirements, each with substantially two symbols having arbitrary allocation. In known keyboards it is merely possible to utilize a key for two .symbols whose code signs differ in one or two definite steps, since the known shifting possibilities do not permit a shifting of arbitrary code steps, or permit it only with very high mechanical or electronic expenditure. A known keyboard in whichshifting of all the code steps is provided can be operated only under a very high expenditure of force.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a keyboard for teletype machines which is characterized by the feature that on the selector slides there is arranged a number of rows of selector cams corresponding to the number of symbols for the allocated keys, and that the selector actuating members, controlled by one or more shift keys, adjustable teeth are arranged for disposition in the path of such selector cams.

According to a preferred form of construction of a keyboard according to the invention, the rows of selector cams are arranged adjacent to one another on the associated selector slides, and engageable with the teeth of a toothed bar, arranged on the selector rocker member, with the teeth of such bar being disposed one behind the 3,317,629 Patented May 2, 1967 other in axial direction and selectively slidable into the operating range ofone of the selector stud plates.

Through the keyboard according to the invention it is possible to utilize two symbols on each key whose code combinations do not bear any relation to each other. In the case in which the code combinations of two symbols allocated to a key differ in each instance merely in certain steps, the keyboard is correspondingly simplified.

Details of the invention are described with the aid of an example of construction, which is represented in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the keyboard in the vicinity of a selector slide;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a selector rocker member in the vicinity of the selector slides; and

FIG- 3 is a plan view of a keyboard layout.

For symbol selection through the stroke of a depressed key 1 of a teletype machine, there is provided, in each instance, a follower pawl 3, arranged for pivotal and longitudinal movement about a rolling point 1415, the pawl being swung, in opposition to the force of an oblique tension spring 4, to dispose a hook-shaped end 5 thereof into the path of motion of a rocker 6, actuated by auxiliary drive means. In this movement, to the simultaneous actuation of a second key, a blocking projection or cam 8, disposed under a coupling projection or cam 7 of the follower pawl 3, is moved into engagement with a ball lock 9. A pivoting of another follower pawl is thus impossible. Simultaneously there is actuated a release bar 12 engageable by the lower left guide 11 of the follower pawl 3, which bar in actuated position releases the drive means for effecting a back and forth movement of the drive rocker 6. After an initial movement of the rocker 6, its free edge 13 engages the follower hook 5 of the pawl 3. In the continuation of the stroke the follower pawl 3 is drawn to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1 against the longitudinal force component of the tension spring 4, until a central offset 14 on the carry-along point 15 of the follower pawl 3 bears on the right side of the bearing cutout 16 of the selector slide 2. During the remainder the stroke of the drive rocker 6, through the follower pawl 3 moves the selector slide 2 and the two selector cam members 17, 18 arranged adjacently thereon into actuating position. Selector rocker members or shafts 19 are constructed to slidably support adjustable slides 21 having teeth 22, the slides 21 being settable in either of two end positions by a lever 20 actuated by a shift key to effect a sliding of the slide in axial direction of the selector rocker shafts. Each tooth 22 on a slide 21 is allocated to two selector cam members 17, 18, and is selectively slidable at will by means of a shift key over the lever 20 into the range of one of such two selector cam members 17, 18. The arrangement of the rows of cams on the two selector cam plates or members corresponds to the respective step combinations of the two symbols which are allocated to the keys, through which over the follower pawl 3 and the selector slide 2 the two selector cam members are settable. Thereby, through a simple axial sliding of the slide 21 on the selector rocker members 19, by means of the lever 20, the shifting from any code combination to any other code combination is possible.

In the vicinity of the respective selector slides 21 there are provided respective selector rocker members 23 of known construction which are allocated to singly occupied command keys. The shifting mechanism is unnecessary with respect to these selector members.

FIG. 3 illustrates a keyboard for a data teletyper, in which the arrangement and utilization of the keys with letters and digits has been carried out according to DIN 2127. Thinly outlined keys are letter and symbol keys and the thickly outlined keys are command keys with 1'3 which no shifting is carried out since they are only singly occupied.

The example of construction described is readily adaptable to special requirements within the scope of the invention. If the code combinations of the symbols arranged on a common key differ only in certain code steps from one another, it is only necessary to arrange shiftable slides with teeth on the selector members corresponding to these code combination steps.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the selector cam rows are arranged in adjacent relation on the selector slides, and a bar movably carried by each selector member, on which the associated teeth are disposed, each bar being shiftable relative to the associated selector member.

3. A keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said selector members are of elongated configuration and are supported for pivotal movement about their longitudinal axis,

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of 10 each bar being slidable relative to its associated selector the appended claims which define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A keyboard for teletype machines for generation of symbol steps, comprising a plurality of selector slides, means operatively connecting each slide to a respective controlling key allocated to at least two symbols, a plurality of rows of selector cam members for each selector slide, 'operatively connected therewith and actuatable thereby, the number of rows for each slide being equal to the number of symbols allocated to the controlling key therefor, a plurality of selector members less in number than said selector slides and each provided with a plurality of teeth thereon cooperable with the respective selector cam members, and means cooperable with said teeth for selectively effecting a shifting thereof into the range of a cooperable row of selector cam members on each selector slide.

member in axial direction, with said teeth thereon being arranged in axial direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KEYBOARD FOR TELETYPE MACHINES FOR GENERATION OF SYMBOL STEPS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR SLIDES, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING EACH SLIDE TO A RESPECTIVE CONTROLLING KEY ALLOCATED TO AT LEAST TWO SYMBOLS, A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF SELECTOR CAM MEMBERS FOR EACH SELECTOR SLIDE, OPERATIVELY CONNECTED THEREWITH AND ACTUATABLE THEREBY, THE NUMBER OF ROWS FOR EACH SLIDE BEING EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF SYMBOLS ALLOCATED TO THE CONTROLLING KEY THEREFOR, A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR MEMBERS LESS IN NUMBER THAN SAID SELECTOR SLIDES AND EACH PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF TEETH THEREON COOPERABLE WITH THE RESPECTIVE SELECTOR CAM MEMBERS, AND MEANS COOPERABLE WITH SAID TEETH FOR SELECTIVELY EFFECTING A SHIFTING THEREOF INTO THE RANGE OF A COOPERABLE ROW OF SELECTOR CAM MEMBERS ON EACH SELECTOR SLIDE. 